Hope for Baby Bennett: So this is 15.

Sunday, February 16, 2025

So this is 15.

Bodie turned 15 today.

14 and 1/2 years of living on hopes, dreams and prayers with a half a heart. And 8 months of living with a beautiful new heart, made possible by the generosity of someone we’ve never even met.

Gratitude doesn’t even begin to cover it.

In the past year, Bodie’s entire life changed. All of our lives changed.

And in the past eight months, Bodie’s life began in an entirely new way. We have officially landed squarely in teenage boyhood, complete with a deep voice, overnight growth (he’s now 5’8.5″, and Sierra, Bodie and I can all technically share shoes now!), hoodies, crocs, and a gaming addiction.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Last night, we went out to dinner as a family to celebrate, and Sierra gave him the sweetest Build a Bear she had picked out for him.

Today, his closest friends came over to celebrate Bodie. And it’s been 5 hours (and counting!) of boys running around playing Hide and Seek, multiple games of Poker and pool, hanging out in the jacuzzi, eating us out of house and home and fangirling over Bodie’s cake.

(This was a proud mom moment, I’m not gonna lie).

For the record, this was the cake:

Bodie has been so abundantly blessed by the nicest group of friends. He knows them all from school and youth group. I am constantly bowled over by how kind and genuine these boys are. I don’t know how Bodie got so lucky, but I feel so profoundly grateful that in this one part of his life, he didn’t have to struggle.

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating…when you have a medically fragile child, you don’t dream big dreams. You don’t let yourself imagine too far ahead in the future. You just can’t. You learn to live in the moment for as long as you get that moment. So each and every birthday truly feels like a gift. And this birthday was no exception. If you had asked me to imagine Bodie’s 15th birthday, I couldn’t have. I didn’t dare to.

Suffice it to say, it was far better than anything I could have dreamed up.

Happy Birthday, dude.

We love you to the moon and back.

A million, billion, quadrillion times.

15 years down.

You’re just getting started and we can’t wait to see what’s in store.

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The Chosen Mothers by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you." No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps -"Selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them." She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron Saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."